John Higgins won the 2022 BetVictor Championship League Snooker Invitational title, beating Stuart Bingham 3-2 in the final at the Morningside Arena, Leicester securing over £20,000 in prize money and a place in the 2022 Cazoo Champion of Champions.
Higgins won Group 7 on Wednesday and followed on from that form to win this title for the third time. It’s the Scot’s first silverware of the season, having finished runner-up in four other events.
Higgins was 2-0 down to Yan Bingtao in his semi-final but recovered with breaks of 56 and 76 for 2-2 then got the better of the decider.
In the final, breaks of 50 and 82 gave Higgins 2-0 advantage, then Bingham took frame three and made a 110 for 2-2. England’s Bingham looked favourite for the title until he broke down on 44 in the last frame, and Higgins made a trademark clearance of 88.
“Yan should’ve put me out in the semis,” admitted 46-year-old Higgins. “I had no pressure on me in the final. Stuart has been the best player over the last two days. I played the best I’ve played in the last two days in the final. I am delighted to win.
“The Cazoo Champion of Champions was one of the best tournaments I played all season. It is great I am going back there. It’s a tough tournament to get into and you must win a tournament. Although this isn’t the biggest of tournaments to win all season, they all count.
“I’ve had some good match practice over the last couple of days. I am looking forward to Wolverhampton as well. Within my own self, I do not believe I could have played any better.”
This post appeared first on World Snooker.